The rule
Hitting the ball twice is an out only when the batter does it deliberately, and not to protect the wicket. A ball that hits the bat and then the batter's pad by accident is not a second strike in that sense.
What the scorer records
- hit ball twice for the dismissal, with the batter who was out.
- No bowler credit.
The judgement
The umpire decides whether the second strike was deliberate. The scorer does not infer intent from the replay.
Common mistakes
- Recording a second strike when the batter was protecting the stumps.
- Calling a ball struck twice by accident an out.
Citations
MCC Laws of Cricket, the section on hit the ball twice.
Match questions
Questions scorers actually ask
- 01 Is a ball hitting the bat twice an out?
- Not by itself. The batter is out only for a deliberate second strike not made to protect the wicket.
- 02 Does the bowler get the wicket?
- No. It is a dismissal without a bowler credit.
- 03 What about a ball hit away from the stumps to stop a run out?
- That is protecting the wicket, and is not the dismissal. The umpire decides, so check with them.
